About Us

About Us

The program has been active in northwest Kenya in the Kakuma Refugee Camp (Reception Center Management, Education, Community Services, Child Protection and Peace and Protection) since the camp was established in 1992.

Assistance to refugees

LWF Kenya, Djibouti & Somalia

We have been active in northwest Kenya in the Kakuma Refugee Camp since the camp was established in 1992. In Turkana West district, the program has been implementing host community projects since December 1999. In 2008, the UNHCR invited us to start operations in Dadaab Refugee Camps. Since 2009 we also provide assistance in the Ali Addeh and Hol Hol refugee camps in Djibouti, and since 2016 in Markazi Camp in Obock and in Djibouti Ville. In 2017 the program opened an office in Kismayu, Somalia, responding to the drought and in support of Internally Displaced, local populations and Somali refugees returning home.

Our Approach

Our commitment to human rights defines our program approach, which sees affected populations as rights holders – not recipients of charity. It involves building awareness of human rights at all levels in the communities where we work.

We focus on community empowerment, understanding that people want to steer and manage their lives. They already have vital skills, knowledge and traditions. We engage with communities in ways that release and build on these capacities.

In all areas of intervention, we aim to strengthen community participation, networks and structures to create lasting solutions which benefit the community as a whole. We partner with local community-based organizations and as they develop support their direct role in program implementation and delivery.

Armed conflicts, natural disasters, displacement and life in a refugee camp often cause stress and trauma. Aside from the obvious need for food and water, shelter and medical care we recognize that the psychosocial and social impact of conflict should be addressed in a cross-cutting approach.